Rehabilitation of alpine vegetation in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State

This paper describes field experiments in using sod-forming grasses from lower elevations as soil stabilizers, and discusses the effects of fertilizing and transplanting native vegetation as part of an integrated management plan for rehabilitating alpine plant communities in the Adirondacks. Results show that it is possible to stabilize severely degraded alpine communities by seeding exposed humus and detritus with bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) or red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) and fertilizing with a complete fertilizer and lime. When the treated areas are protected from further hiker impact, native vegetation returns; first a mat of' mosses develops under the grasses, then seedlings or rhizomes of vascular plants slowly invade the site.